Fall fashion week always sneaks up on me. It inevitably falls right after Labor Day while I'm still in an is-summer-really-over daze. Even though it feels like summer, many editors break out their new fall boots and jackets because, well, it's fashion week. I don't think I'll ever look chic if I'm sweating in leather.

When I'm covering the happenings backstage -- interviewing the key hair, makeup and nail artists at dozens of shows -- I dress for comfort. You can't go wrong with a cute LBD and a great pair of flats. (Fashion week means lots of walking -- most of the shows are spread out among Lincoln Center, Milk Studios downtown and art galleries in Chelsea.)

Because I spend the week rubbing elbows with artists and models, a great manicure is key. This season, I did some serious soul-searching (I joke ... but not really) and decided I wanted a look that was metallic and graphic -- both key trends for fall. I couldn't be happier with my fashion week nails. (That's my mani, pictured here.) And it's a much more wearable fashion statement than a pair of four-inch stiletto boots.